The Indianapolis journal., 1887-11-13
HALF FACENTURY'S CHANGES
A Citizen Who Has Seen Fifty Years of
the Rapid Growth of indianapolis.
Mr.. W. s. Hubbard's Recollections of Marked
Changes in the Appearance and the Busi-
ness and Social Life of the City,,

Tomorrow, W. s. Hubbard completes the
fftieth year of residence in this city. Previous
to locating here he spent some time in the south
ern part of the State, where he had gone direct
ly from his boyhood home in New York. The
trip from Madison to indianapolis was by stage,
and it required two days to make the journey.
At Indianapolis he found all the conditions ia
vorable for homo and business enterprise.
The people were not many. not more than ], 800.
but they came from sturdy Kentucky, Virginia
and Pennsylvania stock. AZ think" said Mr..
Hubbard yesterday, that the Kentuckians were
more numerous, but what struck me most IA
vorably was the strong moral and re-
ligious tone of the people. Rowdyism was
not tolerated and crime punished
promptly and severely. l found here four
ehurches-the Methodist then known as Wesley
Chapel. at the corner of Meridian street and
the Circle; the Baptist, at the corner OF Mary
land and South Meridian; the Presbyterian, on
Pennsylvania street above Market, and the
Christian, Kentucky avenue not far from
Washington. The spirit of benevolence was re-
markably strong for a new town. 1t caused the
formation of the society that exists to this day.
and whenever desttution and distr 50 occurred
it at once relieved. The Sabbath-schools
did good work in paying attention to strangers
and looking after children. Regular visitatons
were made by representatives of these schools.
and each year the Benevolent Society
held special exercises On one occasion all the
members of the General Assembly attended and
offered contributions, but they were refused as
the indianapolis people felt pride in caring for
their own poor. In the fall Of 1888, year after
I came, there was considerable sickness Of a
malarial form. Aside from the regular society
the people organized to attend the sick and re-
lieve distress. It was not epidemic but the
disease caused great suffering Indianapolis
has never been visited by what can be properly
termed epidemic"
In recounting the changes that had taken
place. Mr. Hubbard said that he could hardly
realize that over 100, 900 people were about him.
when fifty years ago there was but little OF the
town north of the circle. The business and resi-
depces were mostly on Washington street or
south OF it. I'm 1887" he continued. Il boarded
with DR.. Cox in log house, weather-boarded.
now is. overlooking the circle. The center OF
that space was occupied by building intended
for the Governors residence, but he would not
live in it, because it had back yard. The
building had four large square rooms on the
first floor. Two wide halls extended
through the house. one north and south
and the other east and west On
the second floor there equal
number of rooms. but no halls like those below:
In the yard were the stumps of trees that had
been feled. the branches limbs and trunks OF
which were scattered all over the place. ln the
west ANGLE at Market ana Meridian street, was
stump against which Sheriff Phillips drove.
He was thrown from his buggy and killed THAT
was the frat fatal accident in the town after 1
came to it. The Governors house was used for
State offices when it found that no one
would occupy it residence"
The Presbyterian Church divided on the olG
and new school doctrines, and when the General
Assembly of the church in 1888 pronounced the
latter as some what heretical, its adherents pur-
chased ground on the north corner OF Market
and the Circle. On it the building that after
wards became Henry Ward Beecher's church.
erected. The whole cost went trife over
81. 000 Mr.. English bought tine property for
SIS 900. and paid the same for the lot and school
house adjoining. This schoolhouse was a small
frame. built by people who formed an association
to carry on private school. Mr.. Hubbard
afterwards owned the lot and building. and next
to him Mr.. Quarles had lot, and the improved
lot adjoining was DIVIDED by Mrs Porter, who
married Bishop Ames On the next square
above, on Meridian street, James NJ Ray owned
an which stood the best house in town.
Money at that time was scarce said Mr.
about the lowest in circulation, he deposited it
with some merchant, and drew against it 1t
the merchant did not have the money to pay
the depositor he would give him I. 0. U.
But most OF the transactions were by barter.
bushel OF corn meal, four or
Eve pounds of butter. two pounds of
beeswax, three or four dozen eggs would get
tea, coffee and calico. Chickens could be had
for so cents a dozen, and have bought many
turkeys at 1Sa cents each. Eggs were thought
to be high cents per dozen, and butter
could be had for and cents The price of
beef to nothing, and wheat,
when a farmer got 35 cents for wheat he thOught
himself on the high road to fortune" The me-
groes were held down by the black laws, which
made it offense to harbor or employ any of
them. Mr.. Hubbard saw an aged colored man.
inoffensve, honest and industrious, knocked
down and killed by two drunken ruffians on IL
linois street, about where the Bates House
stands. The body lay there exposed for several
hours before anyone dared to remove it. He
employed q colored man to dig a we'll. That
night it was filled up by miscreants who op-
posed negro labor. but at the same time many
good citizens interested in the under
ground railway. Slave after slave was helped
along to his liberty by the contributions of the
pbilanthropists of that early day.
Fifty years ago. Me. Hubbard says, the young
man who had $500 per year could keep
his family ia comfort and save
money. He paid for the best room
in the Palmer House in 1910 and for board
for himself, wife aad child only $5 per week.
Rents were, for average residence property,
from $1O0 to $3.50 pee year, while business rooms
Illinois and Washington streets could be had
for 800 per year Mr. Hubbard is still in active
business, and looks if he had many more
years Of good health and vigor ahead of him.